Pneumatic action for automatic playing mechanisms.



L. WING.

PNEUMATIC ACTION FOR AUTOMATIC PLAYING MECHANISMS.

APPLICATION man m11: 19. 1915.

1,290,461. f Patented Jan. 7,1919.

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L. B. WING. PnEuMATlc ACTION foR AUTOMATIC PLAYmG mEcHAmsMs.

' v APPLICATION FILED JUNE I9. |915. 1,290,461

Patented Jan. 7,1919.

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LUI/LAN BIRCH WING, or BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

PNEUMATIC ACTION FOR AUTOMATIC PLAYING MECHANISMS.

Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented an. *7, 1919.

Application filed .Tune 19, 1915. Serial No. 35,115.

To all whom it may concern: y

Be it known that I, LUMAN B. WING, a citizen of the, United States, and a resident of the borough of Brooklyn, county of Kings, in the city and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic Actions for Automatic Playing Mechanisms, of which the following is a specilication, reference being made tothe accompanyingdrawings, forming a part thereof.

Y My invention in its preferred embodiment relates to pneumatic actions and playing devices in automatic musical instruments of that type in vwhich a series of hammers are arranged to actuate the strings or keys of the piano or other musical instrument, said hammers being operated by means of pouver pneumatics and cooperating instrumentalities, the action of which is governed by a perforated note-sheet passing over the orifices of the tracker, said sheet being provided with note perforations representing` the musical score or composition.

\ My present improvements relate more particularly to the control of the individual power pneumatics through the separate valves formed by the perforated sheet passing over the usual openings in the tracker, thereby opening and closing valves therewith and doing away with the customary puppet valves for operating the primary pneun'iatics; and my improvements also involve a mechanism combined with such pneumatic action for controlling and varying the intensity of the hammer stroke on the strings or keys through the action of the bellows or pun'iping device for actuating the playing mechanism as la whole.

The objects of my invention, among other things, are to simplify and improve the construction and arrangement of the parts comprising the individual pneumatic action and parts connectedtherewith, so as to insure the requisite duration. rapidity and intensity of the hammer stroke, to regulate the tone through the pumping bellows, and to so construct the whole that it will be simple, compact and 'durable in all its parts, accurate and eticient in its movements, and not liable to get out of order.

y `To accomplish this, my improvements involve certain novel and useful peculiarities of construction, relative arrangements and connection of parts and principles of operation, all of which will be herein rst fully described and then pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view of the top of the tracker with the perforated notesheet passing over-it; Fig. 2- is a vertical fore-and-aft side view, of a pneumatic action embodying my invention, the same being shown in connection with the hammer vaction of a piano; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the arrangement of the individual pneumatic actions; Fig. 4; is a vertical sectional view* of the pneumatic and slide valve regulating mechanism; Fig. 5. is a detail View of part of the sliding valve; and Fig. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the pneumatic action shown in Fig. 2. l

`Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

v Referringto the drawinfrs, 6 is the trackerbar of ordinary construction with the usual openings or air chiots 7 adapted to register with the perforations 8 cut in the notesheet 9 as shown in Fig. 1. The tracker 6 is shown `in its usual relation to the music rolllO and take-up` roll 11, located in the spool-box 12. From the tracker 6 the air ducts 7 in the form of flexible tubes 13 lead directly to a rofw lor series of control pneumatics 11, preferably fastened under the front margin of the shelf 15 as shown lin Figs. 2 and 8. Running transversely along thel upper margin of the shelf 15, is the hollow channel board 16 connected by the tube 17 with any suitable exhaust apparatus, not shown, thereby for.n iiing the exhaust chamber 18, extending across the front of the shelf 15. The series vof control pneumatics 14 are each connected with the exhaust chamber 18 by suitable ports 19 having the-rein bleedholesv 2O 0f usualconstruction, as shown in Fig. 6. y l

`Alongthe upper rear side ofthe shelf 15 is located'the ,hollow channel board 21, of substantially similar construction as the channel board 16, forming ythe exhaust cham- Lber 22 which is connected with` the exhaust apparatus by the tube 23. The location and arrangement of the respective channel boards 1,6 andQl and exhaust chambers 18v and 22 on the shelf V,15 are clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3.4

Beneath the rear edge of the shelfv 1,5 are secured a corresponding raw` or series of power pneumatics 24, corresponding in number with the series of control pneumatics 14 and arranged in transverse parallelism therewith. These power pneumatics 24 are each connected with the exhaust chamber 22 by separate ports 25, as shown in cross section in Fig. 6. The movable leaves of the two pneumatics 14 and 24 in any individual. pneumatic action showing my improvement are connected by the control lever 26, fulcrumed at the hinge joint of the power pneumatic 24, as shown in Fig. 6. The location and connestion of pneumatics and control levers are such that the power of the contro-l pneumatic 14 is greater on the left end of the lever 26 than that exerted by the pneumatic 24, when the connecting air duct. 7 in the tracker 6 is closed by the note-sheet 9, the position of the lever 26 beinO shown in full lines in Fig. 6, and in dotted lines when the air duct 7 is open to atmospheric pressure, thereby changing the status of .the two pneumatics.

The inner end 27 of the lever 26 acts upon the piano hammer action as shown in Fig. 2, by striking the felt faced lug 28 aflixed to the abstract 29 which actuates the wippen 30 to operate the hammer 31 through the medium of *the hopper jack 32 and hammer butt 33. In order to adju-st the connections from each power pneumatic 24 to the wippen connection on which it operates according to the necessities of lthe case, there is provided a regulating rail 34 in which there are separate adjustable screw stops 35 to limit the `upward movement of the lug 28, thereby controlling with exactness the stroke of theseparate power pneumatics 24 in operating the instrument.

Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5, I have here shown my improved construction devised to control and vary lthe intensity of such hammer stroke on the strings or keys of the piano equipped with my pneumatic action hereinbefore descriped by the action of the foot-bellows or pumping device. In this improvement lthe following detail features should be noted as characteristic of the device. Between the bellows 58 and the separate exhaust chambers 18 and 22 a regulating pneumatic 36 is interposed normally held expanded by a spring or other means, combined with a double slide-valve actuated by the pneumatic 36 to vary the comparative tensions in the separate exhaust chambers 18 and 22, thereby directly controlling by the pumping device the'r accentuation of the notes that are being played. The pneumatic 36 is connected with the pumping device or bellows 58, by the tube 37; the movableleaf 38 of the pneumatic 36 when collapsed strains a suitable coil-spring 39 extending between two valve boxes 41 and 42 connected with the exhaust chambers 18 and 22 respectively by the tubes 17 and 23 respectively, and with the pumping bellows 58, by the tubes 43 and 44 respectively. Each valve box 41 and 42 has a horizontal plate 45 and 46 respectively located therein in which suitably arranged slots 47 and 48 are respectively cut, which slots are opened and closed by the sliding valves 49 and 50 respectively. The valves 49 and 50 are connected by the rod 51 which is secured to the end of the arm 40, and are thereby horizontally operated by the pneumatic 36. When the pnetunatic 36 is expanded, as shown in Fig. 4, the left hand slot 47 is wide open and the right hand slot 48 is nearly closed; when the pneumatic 36 is collapsed as against the coil spring 39 through high-tension in the pumping bellows 58, the slot 48 is entirely open while the slot 47 is nearly closed. It is obvious that the operator through the expansion and collapsing of 'this pneumatic 36 in varying the operation o-f the pumping belows, may directly vary and control the respective air tensions in the respective exhaust chambers 18 and 22, thereby varying the intensity and force of the hammer stroke on the strings o1' keys of the piano action proper equipped with my pneumatic action hereinbefore described.

In operation, when the tracker air ducts 7 are opened by a note-sheet perforation registering with the proper air duct in the tracker, air at atmospheric pressure expands the control pneumatic 14, breaking the equilibrium maintained by the control lever 26 between the closed control pneumatic 14 and the open power pneumatic 24, and causes the power pneumatic 24 immediately to collapse, as shown in the dotlted lines in Fig. 6, whereby the inner end 27 of the lever 26 strikes an upward blo-w on the lug 28 of the hammer action. lVhen the tracker duct 7 is again covered by the unperforated part of lthe note-sheet, the control pneumatic 14 is at once collapsed, and through the greater leverage of the longer arm of the control lever 26, the power pneumatic' 24 is eX- panded, and the normal equilibrium maintained by the sheet 9 forming a closed valve with the tracker duct 7 renders the power pneumatic 24 inoperative.

It is apparent that my improved pneu- Another embodiment of my invention is shown in Figf2, ,where a spring valve, operated manually or otherwise, is utilized 'in lieu of the perforated note-sheet and tracker to form the control valve. Such form of valve is illustrated in conjunction with an expression-device for regulating the range ofmovement of the hammer' 31. The rail 52 rocks on the pivot 53 through the lug 54: and link 55 connected with the end 27 of the control lever 26, aiiixed to the pneumatics 111-. and 24 as hereinbefore described. The button 56, when depressed, opens the spring valve 57 which is directly connected with the pneumatic 14; by the tube 13, in the same manner as the perforated sheet opens and closes the air ducts 7 on the tracker 6. The position of the rail 52 with respect to the arm of the hammer 31 may be shifted thereby at will.

I have described my invention as being operated by the partial vacuum principle, but I do not limit myself thereto, as the pneumatic actions may be operated by air under pressure. I prefer, however, to utilize an air-exhaust apparatus as hereinbefore described, which is customary in automatic musical instruments.

Many other modified arrangements of this devicemay be employed adapted to the requirements of different conditions or different instruments and machines in many ways that will obviously occur to those familiar with this art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A pneumatic action comprising a control'pneumatic, a power pneumatic, a separate exhaust chamber connected with each pneumatic, means connecting the movable members of both pneumatics, and means for varying the air tensions in the two pneumatics to operate said action.

2. A pneumatic action comprising a control pneumatic, a power pneumatic, a separate exhaust chamber connected with each pneumatic, means rigidly ailixed to the movable members of both pneumatics, and means for varying the air tensions in the two pneumatics to operate said action.

3. A pneumatic action comprising a control pneumatic, a power pneumatic, a separate exhaust chamber connected with each pneumatic, means connecting the movable members of both pneumatics, the control pneumatic being maintained in a collapsed position while the power pneumatic is maintained in an expanded position, and means for varying the air tensions in the two pneumatics to operate said action.

4. A pneumatic action comprising a control pneumatic, a power pneumatic, a separate exhaust chamber connected with each pneumatic, means connecting the movable members of both pneumatics, the 'control pneumatic being maintained in a collapsed position while the power pneumaticis maintained in an expanded position, and means for varying the air tensions in the two pneumatics to reverse the positions of said pneumatics.

5. A pneumatic action comprising a control pneumatic, a power pneumatic, a separate exhaust chamber connected with each pneumatic, means rigidly affixed to the movable members of both .pneumatics, the control pneumatic being maintained in a collapsed position while the power pneumatic is maintained in an expanded position, and means for varying the air tensions in the two pneumatics to operate said action.

6. A pneumatic action comprising` a control pneumatic, a power pneumatic, a separate exhaust chamber connected with each pneumatic, means rigidly affixed to the movable members of both pneumatics, the control pneumatic being maintained in a collapsed position while the power pneumatic is maintained in anexpanded position, and means for varying the air tensions in the two pneumatics to reverse the positions of said pneumatics.

`7. A pneumatic action comprising a control pneumatic, a power pneumatic, a separate exhaust chamber, connected with each pneumatic, means connecting the movable members of both pneumatics, both pneumatics being maintained in inoperative position, and means for varying the air tensions in the control pneumatic to reverse the positions of said pneumatics.

8. The combination, with a perforated note-sheet, of a tracker having air-ducts', of a pneumatic action comprising a control pneumatic directly connected with an air duct, a power pneumatic, and means connecting the movable members of both pneumatics to operate a player action when a note-sheet perforation registers with the tracker-duct connected with the control pneumatic.

9. The combination, with a perforated note-sheet, of a tracker having air-ducts, and a pneumatic action comprising a control pneumatic directly connected with a tracker duct, a power pneumatic to operate a player action, means connecting the movable members of both pneumatics, the former pneumatic maintained in a collapsed position while the latter is maintained in an expanded position bythe unperforated portions of the sheet, for operating' a player action when the note-sheet perforation registers with a tracker duct connected with said control pneumatic.

10. The combination, with a perforated note-sheet, of a tracker having air-ducts, of a pneumatic action comprising a control pneumatic directlyl connected with an air duct, a power pneumatic and a lever aiiixed to the movable members of both pneumatics to operate a player action when a note-sheet perforation registers with the tracker-duct connected with the control pneumatic.

11. The combination, with a perforated note-sheet, of a tracker having air-ducts, of a pneumatic action comprising a control pneumatic directly connected with an air duct, a power pneumatic, and a lever affixed to the movable members of both pneumatics and fulcrumed on the hinge of the power pneumatic with the longer arm affixed to the control pneumatic, to operate a player action when a note-sheet perforation registers with the tracker-duct connected with the control pneumatic.

12. The combination, with a perforated note-sheet, of a tracker having air-ducts, of a pneumatic action comprising a control pneumatic directly connected with an air duct, a power pneumatic to operate a player action, rigid means connecting the movable members of both pneumatics, and an exhaust chamber' connected with said pneumatics, both pneumatics being maintained in inoperative position by the unperforated portions of the sheet, for operating the player action when a note-sheet perforation registers with a tracker duct connected with said control pneumatic.

18. rlhe combination, with a perforated note-sheet, of a tracker having air-ducts, anda pneumatic action comprising a control pneumatic connected with a tracker-duct, a power pneumatic to operate a player action, a lever fulcrumed on the power pneumatic to operatively connect said control pneumatic with said power pneumatic, both pneu-matics being maintained in inoperative position by the unperforated portions of the sheet and becoming operative when a note-sheet perforation registers with the tracker-duct connected with said control pneumatic.

111. The combination, with a perforated note-sheet, of a tracker having air-ducts, and a pneumatic action comprising a control pneumatic connected with a tracker-duct, a power pneumatic to operate a player action, a lever fulcrumed on the power pneumatic to operatively connect said control pneumatic with said power pneumatic, the control pneumatic being maintained in a collapsed position and the power pneumatic in an expanded position by the unperforated portions of the sheet, and both pneumatics reversing their position when a. note-sheet perforation registers with the tracker-duct connected with said control pneumatic.

15. A pneumatic action comprising in combination with a perforated note-sheet and tracker having air-ducts, a control pneumatic connected with a tracker-duct, an exhaust chamber, a power pneumatic to operate a player action, means for connecting both pneumatics with the exhaust chamber, and means connecting the movable members of both pneumatics to operate the player action when a note-sheet perforation registers with the tracker-duct connected with said control pneumatic.

16. A pneumatic action comprising in combination with a perforated note-sheet and tracker having air-ducts, a control pneumatic connected with a tracker-duct, an exhaust chamber, a power pneumatic to operate a player action, means for connecting both pneumatics with the exhaust chamber, and lever means affixed to the movable members of both pneumatics to operate the player action when a note-sheet perforation registers with the tracker-duct connected with said control pneumatic.

17. A pneumatic action comprising in combination with a. perforated note-sheet and tracker having air-ducts, a control pneumatic connected with a tracker-duct, an exhaust chamber, a power pneumatic to operate a player action, means for connecting both pneumatics with the exhaust chamber, and a lever affixed to the movable members of both pneumatics, and fulcrumed on the hinge of the power pneumatic to operate the player action when a note-sheet perforation registers with the tracker-duct connected with said control pneumatic.

18. A pneumatic action comprising in combination with a perforated note-sheet and tracker having air-ducts, a control pneumatic connected with a tracker-duct, an exhaust chamber, a power pneumatic to operate a player action, means for connecting both pneumatics with the exhaust chamber, and a lever affixed to the movable members of both pneumatics and fulcrumed on the hinge of the power pneumatic with the longer arm affixed to the control pneumatic, to operate the player action when a notesheet perforation registers with the trackerduct connected with said control pneumatic..

19. In a pneumatic action, the combination with a pumping bellows, of two exhaust chambers connected with the pneumatic action, a pneumatic directly operable by said bellows and yieldingly held in an expanded position when the air pressure in the bellows is at low tension, and means interposed between said bellows and said exhaust chambers, operable by said pneumatic, to vary the difference in air pressure in the two exhaust chambers when the position of said pneumatic is changed through increased tension in the bellows.

20. In a pneumatic action, the combination with a pumping bellows, of two exhaust chambers connected with the pneumatic action, a control pneumatic directly operable by said bellows, a spring to yieldingly hold said control pneumatic open when the air pressure in the bellows is at low tension, means interposed between said bellows and said exhaust chambers, operable by said pneumatic to vary the difference in air pressure in the two exhaust chambers when the position of said control pneumatic is changed through increased tension `in the bellows.

21. In a pneumatic action, the combination with a pumping bellows, of two exhaust chambers connected with the pneumatic action, a pneumatic directly operable by said bellows and yieldingly held in an expanded position when the air pressure in the bellows is at low tension, and separate valves interposed between said bellows and each of said exhaust chambers, jointly-operable by said pneumatic to Vary the difference in air pressure in the 'two exhaust chambers when the position of said control pneumatic is changed through increased tension in the bellows.

22. In a` pneumatic action, the combination with a pumping bellows, of two exhaust chambersconnected with the pneumatic action, a control "pneumatic directly operable by said bellows, a spring to yieldingly hold saidy control pneumaticopen when the air pressure in the bellows is at low tension,'and separategvalves interposed between said bellows and each' of said exhaust chambers, jointly operable by said pneumatic to Vary the ydifference inl airy pressure in the two exhaust chambers when the position of said control pneumaticis changed' through increased tension in the bellows.

23. In a pneumatic action, the combination with a pumping bellows, of two exhaust chambersconnected with the pneumatic action, a pneumatic directly operable by said bellows and yieldinglyheld in an ,expanded position when the air pressure in the lbellows is at low tension, and a double-sliding Valve action interposed between said bellows and each of said exhaust chambers, secured to and operated by said pneumatic to vary the diierence in air pressure in the two exhaust chambers when the position of said control pneumatic is changed through increased tension in the bellows.

24. In a pneumatic action, the combination with a pumping bellows, of two exhaust chambers connected withthe pneumatic action, a control pneumatic directly operable by said bellows, a spring to yieldingly hold said control pneumatic open when the air pressure in the bellows is at low tension, and a double-sliding valve action interposed between said bellnws and each of said exhaust chambers, secured to and operated by said pneumatic to vary the diiierence in air pressure in the two exhaust chambers when the position of said control pneumatic is changed through increased tension in the bellows.

25. In combination with a pneumatic action comprising a control pneumatic and a power pneumatic each connected with separate exhaust chambers, of a pumping bellows, a pneumatic directly operable by said bellows and yieldingly held 1n an expanded position when the air pressure Iin the bellows" is at low tension, and means interposed between said bellows and said exhaust chambers, operable by said pneumaticv to vary the difference in air pressure in the two exhaust chambers when the position-of said pneun'iatic is changed through increased tension in the bellows.

26. In combination with a pneumatic tion comprising a control pneumatic andA a power pneumatic each connected with separate exhaust-chambers, oi a pumping bcllows, a control pneumatic directly operable by said bellows, a spring to yieldingly hold said control pneumatic open when the air pressure in the bellows is at low tension, means interposed between said bellows and, said `exhaust 'chambers,` operable by said pneumatic to vary the difference in air pr'e's-A sure inthe 'two exhaust chambers when the positionl vof saidV control pneumatic is changed' through increased `tension in the bellows. 'A 'l v f 27. In combination with a pneumatic action comprising a' control pneumatic and a pbwer pneumatic 'each'connected with separate exhaust chambers, of a pumping bellows, a pneumatic directly7 operable by said bellows and yieldingly held in an expanded position when the air pressure in the bellows is at lowtension, and separate valves interposed between said bellows and each of said exhaust chambers, jointly operable by said pneumatic to vary the difference in air pressure in the twoexhaust chambers when the position of said control pneumatic is changed through increased tension in the bellows. l l

28. In combination with a pneumatic action comprising a control pneumatic and a power pneumatic each connected with separate exhaust chambers, of a pumping bellows, a control pneumatic directly operable by said bellows, a spring to yieldingly hold said control pneumatic open when the air pressure in the bellows is at low tension, and separate valves interposed between said bellows and each of said exhaust chambers, jointly operable by said pneumatic to vary the diiierence in air pressure in the two exhaust chambers when the position of said control pneumatic is changed through inw creased tensinn in the bellows.

29. In combination with a pneumatic action comprising a control pneumatic and a power pneumatic each connected with separate exhaust chambers` of a pumping bellows, a pneumatic directly operable by said bellows and yieldingly held in an expanded position when the air pressure in the bellows is at low tension` and a double-sliding valve action interposed between said bellows yand each of said exhaust chambers, secured to and operated by said pneumatic to vary the differencein air pressure in the two exhaust chambers when the position of said control pneumatic is changed through increased tension in the bellows.

30. In combination with a pneumaticaction comprising a control pneumatic and a power pneumatic each connected with separate exhaust chambers, of a. pumping bellows, a control pneumatic directly operable by said bellows, a spring to yieldingly hold said control pneumatic open when the air pressure in the bellows is at low tension, and a double-sliding valve action interposed between said bellows and each of said exhaust chambers, secured to and operated by said pneumatic to vary the difference in air pressure in the two exhaust chambvrs when the position of said control pneumatic is changed through increased tension in the bellows.

31. A pneumatic action comprising a control pneumatic, a power pneumatic, a separate exhaust chamber connected with each pneumatic, a lever axed to the movable members of both pneumatics, and means for varying the' air tensions in the two pneumatics to operate said action.

32. A pneumatic action comprising a control pneumatic, a power' pneumatic, a separate exhaust chamber connected with each pneumatic, a lever ailixed to the movable members'of both pneumatics, and fulcrumed on the hinge of the power pneumatic with the longer arm aiixed to the two pneumatics, and' means for varying the air tensions in the control pneumatic to operate said action.

Copies o! this patent may be obtained for difference in air -pressure in the two. exhaust l chambers. l

34. In combination with apneumatlc action comprising av control pneumatic and a. power pneu-matic each connected with sep# arate exhaust chambers, of a pumping-bellows, a pneumatic operable by said vbellows and yieldingly held in an expanded position when the airpressure in the bellows is at low tension, and means, operable by the movement of said pneumatic thro-ugh in-l creased tension in the bello-ws, to vary the difference in air pressure in the two exhaust chambers. l

35. A pneumatic action comprising a control pneumatic, a power pneumatic, the leaves of both pneumatics constituting a movable lever to operate the action, a separate exhaust chamber connected with each pneumatic, and means for varying the relative air tensions in the two pneumatics to actuate said lever.

LUMAN BIRCH WING.

Witnesses:

PHILIP C. P Eox, W. C. MANGNER.

ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner o f Patents.

Washington, D. C. 

